How to fix Fortnite lag using a VPN in 2025

Fortnite is infamous for heavy lag – even when the internet connection is fine. There could be a lot of reasons why Fortnite is lagging, but the most common one is that your ISP is throttling your internet. Other reasons might include improper routing, outdated drivers, an old version of the game, and many more. While a VPN doesn't solve all problems, it can come in handy when dealing with ISP throttling. With a VPN, you can bypass ISP throttling and eliminate Fortnite lag. NordVPN is the most capable VPN for it, as it effectively bypasses ISP throttling with obfuscated servers.

In this article, I show you how to fix Fortnite lag with a VPN. I also cover the most common reasons for lagging in games, how to fix lag on PS4, and other questions.

Why do you need a VPN to fix Fortnite lag?

A common cause of a Fortnite lag is that your ISP is throttling your internet connection. However, a VPN can help you with this – it hides your internet activity from your ISP, preventing it from seeing how much bandwidth you’re using for gaming. A robust VPN will also hide your IP address, keeping you safe from DDoS attacks.

Another reason for lag might be the huge amount of players. Fortnite can have tens of thousands of players online at any given time. It also means all those gamers can lead to overcrowded and congested servers, which can cause the game to lag.

A gaming VPN can help by giving you access to a huge number of fast servers that are ideal for playing Fortnite. This means you can ditch an overcrowded server and switch to a less congested, faster server. This will also lower your ping.

Why is Fortnite lagging?

Your Fortnite game can lag for many reasons, from congested servers to slow internet connections. Here’s a list of the most common causes for the lagging:

• Outdated drivers. If your graphics card driver and network driver are not up to date, there’s a strong chance they’re causing the unwanted Fortnite lag.
• Slow internet speed. A fast internet connection is vital for a lag-free game of Fortnite. If you find that your games are always laggy, check your internet speeds.
• Low-spec hardware. Fortnite has specific system requirements that your computer must meet in order for the game to play at its optimum level. If you’re running Fortnite on a device that can’t handle it, you’re likely to experience interruptions.
• Old game version. Fortnite regularly releases new drivers and updates to the game. If you don’t keep your Fortnite updated, you will be playing on an older version that might have bugs and can lead to a laggy gaming experience.
• ISP throttling. If you regularly game and use a lot of bandwidth, there’s a chance your ISP may throttle your connection, which causes the Fortnite lag.

However, there are some troubleshooting steps you can take if you’re experiencing a lot of lag in your game:

• Check your FPS (frames per second) are high enough
• Check whether your device has the right system requirements
• Disable background programs
• Turn off power saving mode
• See if you’re exceeding your ISP bandwidth policy
• Find a new matchmaking server
• Make sure your router is fully optimized
• Restart Fortnite
• Reinstall Fortnite and use the latest game version
• Keep your device from overheating
• Contact the Fortnite support team
• Get in touch with your ISP’s support team

But if none of the above-mentioned solutions helped to fix the lag, you should try using one of the best Fortnite VPNs.

The best VPNs to fix Fortnite lag

Together with the Cybernews research team, I carefully reviewed 41 different providers to compile a list of the best VPNs to fix Fortnite lag. They can not only improve your gaming experience but also help remove the Fortnite ban and allow you to enjoy playing from anywhere in the world. Here are the best 3 VPNs for fixing Fortnite lagging:

1. NordVPN – the most reliable VPN to fix Fortnite lag
2. Surfshark – the most affordable VPN for fixing Fortnite lag
3. PureVPN – great VPN for dealing with Fortnite lag

Five methods to fix Fortnite lag

You can fix Fortnite lag using a few methods. Before you give up on the game, you can simply try exiting all background programs. If that doesn’t help, you can try out the steps provided below.

A VPN can help bypass issues with your internet connection. For instance, if your ISP is throttling your connection speeds while gaming, a VPN will prevent that by hiding your traffic.

1. Change the rendering mode

The Performance – Lower Graphical Fidelity mode allows gamers with less powerful devices to play the game while maintaining a smooth framerate. You can enable this mode straight from the game. Here’s a quick step-by-step tutorial:

1. Launch Fortnite
2. Go to the Menu and find Rendering mode under Display settings
3. Change the mode to Performance – Lower Graphical Fidelity and click Apply
4. Restart Fortnite, and that’s it

2. Update graphic drivers

Graphic driver manufacturers continuously update their technology to fix bugs and improve performance. So gamers should make sure their graphic drivers are always up to date to avoid lagging.

You can find the latest graphic driver updates depending on your manufacturer here:

• Nvidia
• Intel
• AMD

3. Change the power mode on your computer

If your computer is put in power-saving mode, this can interfere with Fortnite performance and graphics. For Windows users, it differs depending on the Windows version. On Windows 10, you can simply slide the Battery mode in the Control Panel to max capacity. On Windows 11, you should follow these steps: Settings > System > Power & battery. Then, you should opt for the Best performance setting.

Moreover, to streamline your workflow, you can skip these steps by hovering your mouse over the battery icon in the bottom right corner and right-clicking it. Then, select Power and sleep settings, which will redirect you to the Power & battery settings.

Meanwhile, Mac users can find battery preferences under the Battery section. You should set the Low Power Mode option to Never.

4. Prevent device overheating

If Fortnite starts lagging only after playing for a few hours, make sure your computer isn’t overheating. If it is, try cleaning your device’s fans to allow easier airflow. This way, you’re not risking damaging hardware.

5. Use a VPN

A VPN can help bypass issues with your internet connection. For instance, if your ISP is throttling your connection speeds while gaming, a VPN will prevent that by hiding your traffic.

Getting a VPN also guarantees safety from DDoS attacks by changing your IP address. During our tests, NordVPN turned out to be one of the fastest VPNs for gaming and the one most recommended by Reddit users. You can learn more about the provider in our comprehensive NordVPN review.

Why is Fortnite lagging on your different devices?

People like to play Fortnite on a range of devices. Whether you’re a PC gamer with a Windows or Mac desktop, a console gamer on an Xbox or PlayStation, or a mobile gamer playing on your smartphone, you can enjoy a game of Fortnite on many platforms.

Unfortunately, all these devices can still experience lag. Let’s look at what causes lag on different devices, and how you can fix it.

Why is Fortnite laggy on my Windows or Mac?

If you’re playing Fortnite on a desktop or laptop computer, you might suffer from lag for a variety of reasons. Here are some common reasons and potential solutions for lagging:

• Your PC might not meet the minimum requirements to run Fortnite. You can try to upgrade your hardware.
• Your ISP throttles your internet speeds whenever you’re gaming to lower bandwidth usage. To hide your online activities, try connecting to a VPN. For example, NordVPN has one of the biggest server fleets to help conceal your traffic.
• You have a high ping. Check your internet connection.
• You’re playing on an overcrowded server. Switch to less-crowded servers with a VPN.

Why is Fortnite laggy on my Xbox or PS4 games console?

Fortnite is very popular amongst console gamers, but just because you’re playing on a PlayStation or Xbox doesn’t mean you’re free from lag. Here are some common causes of Fortnite console lag and potential solutions:

• Weak internet connection. Switch your router on and off to see if this helps.
• Old version of Fortnite. Check that you have updated to the latest version.
• Problems with ISP throttling while gaming. Use a VPN to hide your online activity, like NordVPN, which has a traffic obfuscation feature for completely anonymous browsing.

It’s worth mentioning that you can’t download a VPN directly to a game console. However, you can connect a VPN to your router, and then you will be able to use it on all connected devices.

Why is Fortnite laggy on my Android or iOS smartphone or tablet?

Whether you’re playing on an Android or Apple device, you can still experience a laggy game of Fortnite. Here are some reasons why, and some tips to solve the problem.

• You have an older version of Fortnite. Check your updates to make sure you have the latest version.
• Your internet connection is unstable. Switch to your home Wi-Fi instead of using mobile data.
• You have too many other apps running. Close all apps on your phone and switch to game mode if your phone has this option.

You’ll notice that a lot of Fortnite lag issues relate to ISPs and internet connections. By getting a good VPN, you can bypass a lot of these issues, which makes troubleshooting Fortnite lag even easier.

Using a VPN and still feeling laggy on Fortnite?

Sometimes, you can still encounter some lagging even when using a VPN. If this is the case, try the following solutions:

• Try a different VPN server. Some VPN servers might become overcrowded and cause unwanted lags when playing Fortnite. If so, try other servers until you find one with the best performance.
• Pick a server closer to your actual location. For the best speeds, it’s good to connect to a server that is not far away from your true location. Check which one you’ve picked and reconnect to a closer one if possible.
• Restart the VPN app. Technical glitches can sometimes cause the Fortnite lag. You can often resolve them by simply restarting your VPN app.
• Switch to a more reliable VPN. If none of the above solutions worked, there’s a strong chance that you’re using an untrustworthy VPN. If that’s the case, you should consider switching to a more reliable provider.

Fixing lag on Fortnite – the final word

When you’re playing Fortnite, the last thing you want is a laggy game. But as I’ve discussed in this article, Fortnite lag can come about for many reasons.

Maybe you’re on a congested server, your ISP is throttling your service, or your hardware needs an upgrade. Maybe your Fortnite version needs updating, or you might have a slow internet day. There are many reasons you might be experiencing lag, and there are many solutions, but one that stands out as an answer for a number of lag causes is using a reputable VPN, like NordVPN.

From switching servers to hiding your bandwidth usage from your ISP and masking your IP address for security reasons, a VPN can help you play the best game of Fortnite possible.

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